Gene Simmons Shows Off Personality At Parx Casino Show

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — For 50 years, he was "The Demon."

As the co-founder of the band KISS, the stage antics of "The Demon" were legendary in concert as the "God of Thunder" stalked the stage, sticking out his long tongue, breathing fire, and spitting out fake blood.

KISS — a group formed in the early 1970s with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss — was larger than life.

Simmons is still larger than life as the bass player brought his Gene Simmons Band to the Xcite Center at Parx Casino on Friday night.

The almost 77-year-old icon always allowed Stanley to be the MC at shows.

But Simmons showed that he's quite the showman himself on Friday night, engaging the audience often during his 18-song set.

He asked several times for the house lights to show the crowd —which included many loyal KISS army followers. He also told stories and jokes, got everyone clapping and singing along, and answered audience questions and requests.

During the encore of the classic KISS song "Rock N' Roll All Nite," Simmons invited four audience members to join him on stage to sing background vocals and dance.

Backed by an impressive three-man band of two guitarists and a drummer, Simmons stormed the stage in front of huge stacks of Marshall amps to "Deuce," a heavyweight track from the group's first album.

What followed were classic KISS songs and several deep tracks, including "Shout It Out Loud," "Let Me Go, Rock n Roll," "Calling Dr. Love," "I Love It Loud," a fan request for a partial version of "Watchin’ You," "Christine Sixteen," and "Cold Gin."

He even snuck in a snippet of the B'52s "Rock Lobster."

Simmons, who helped get the group Van Halen signed to a recording contract, also performed "House of Pain," a version of that group's unreleased song.

He also paid tribute to the late great guitarist Frehley, as his band performed a few Ace songs, including a stellar version of "Rocket Ride."

These days, Simmons has traded in his stage persona for his personality.

People may have seen this over the years on his television show "Gene Simmons Family Jewels," which aired from 2006 to 2012, and featured his wife Shannon Tweed and their two children.

That personality, combined with classic KISS cuts, created a memorable performance where people laughed as much as they rocked.

Not bad for a man considered "The Demon."

(Parx Casino)